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South African mining employs many and may only have decades left, report warns

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:52 GMT

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — South Africa’s overall mining profits slipped by more than $5 billion in the last financial year, while the country that was once the world’s largest gold producer might have less than 30 years of a viable gold industry left without renewed investment, according to a new report by big four auditing firm PwC.The report released Tuesday also estimated that South Africa’s iron ore mining industry may only last 13 more years without further commitment from companies to identify, pursue and extract new deposits. The country is among the world’s top 10 producers of the raw material key to the steel-making process.PwC’s annual report on the South African mining industry said global drops in some commodity prices following the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the reduced profits. But so did South Africa’s local challenges of currency fluctuations, high inflation, power blackouts and logistical problems in exporting minerals because of d...

Capitol rioter who attacked Reuters cameraman and police officer gets more than 4 years in prison

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:52 GMT

A man who attacked a police officer and a Reuters cameraman during the U.S. Capitol riot was sentenced on Wednesday to more than four years in prison.Shane Jason Woods, 45, was the first person charged with assaulting a member of the news media during the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.Woods, of Auburn, Illinois, took a running start and tackled the Reuters cameraman “like an NFL linebacker hunting a quarterback after an interception,” federal prosecutors wrote in a court filing.Woods also attacked and injured a Capitol police officer who was 100 pounds (45 kilograms) lighter than him, according to prosecutors. He blindsided the officer, knocking her off her feet and into a metal barricade. The next day, the officer was still in pain and said she felt as if she had been “hit by a truck,” prosecutors said.“Woods’ actions were as cowardly as they were violent and opportunistic,” prosecutors wrote. “He targeted people smaller than him who did not see him coming. He attack...

Quebec slow to improve public services for Indigenous people, says Ombudsman

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:52 GMT

MONTREAL — The Quebec government has failed to implement most of the recommendations from a landmark 2019 report that said Indigenous people suffered systemic discrimination in public services.Québec Ombudsman Marc-André Dowd made the declaration today about the government’s progress on the report by retired judge Jacques Viens, who made 142 recommendations.Dowd says 11 recommendations have been fully implemented and another 34 are in progress.The Quebec government appointed Viens in December 2016 to lead an inquiry into the barriers that Indigenous Peoples face when they seek access to public services.Calls for an inquiry came after Indigenous women in Val-d’Or, Que., accused police of sexual assault and other forms of abuse.Dowd says the province has moved slowly because it lacks a strategy to implement Viens’ recommendations. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 4, 2023. The Canadian Press

Biden's latest moves on student loan forgiveness leave borrowers unimpressed

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:52 GMT

President Biden is in murky water with student loan borrowers and advocates after revealing his next avenues for relief may not be available for everyone the way he originally promised. Just before student loan payments turned back on after a more than three-year pandemic pause, the administration announced its initial policy considerations for its next debt forgiveness plan. The announcement showed the Department of Education is looking to forgive debt for certain groups of borrowers, but for now apparently backing away from universal relief.  Trump’s New York fraud trial enters day three: live updates While there is time for plans to change — or for additional ones to emerge — the proposal rattled advocates and supporters who now question if Biden will ever be able to help all 45 million borrowers after the Supreme Court struck down his previous proposal.“This is the way the student loan swamp in Washington, D.C., operates. They want to put forth a face like they're really wanti...

Wednesday Forecast: Temps in low 80s with showers possible by evening

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:52 GMT

CHICAGO — It will be mostly cloudy Wednesday with a slight chance for some isolated showers. Breezy south, southwest winds help push highs into the lower 80s this afternoon.  Interactive Radar: Track showers and storms here Showers become likely overnight, and some thunderstorms are possible as temperatures fall into the lower 60s.  Thursday Forecast: Showers are likely Thursday, especially in the morning hours. Highs in the lower 70s are expected, under mostly cloudy skies tomorrow afternoon.Full forecast details and more at the WGN Weather Center blog

Tupac Shakur murder investigation: Arraignment postponed for man charged with his killing

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:52 GMT

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Duane "Keffe D" Davis made his first appearance in a Las Vegas courtroom Wednesday after being charged with murder in the shooting death of rapper Tupac Shakur.Davis' court appearance lasted less than two minutes because Davis did not have an attorney present. Watch the entire appearance in the video above."He needs two weeks, he said, to be here," Davis told Judge Terra Jones. "Today was the scheduled arraignment but he can't be arraigned until he has a lawyer. Mr. Davis announced that he has retained a lawyer," Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson said following the court appearance. "Mr. Faal couldn't be here today so Mr. Davis asked for a two-week continuance."Wolfson said Davis has hired Edi Faal, a California lawyer, who told Nexstar's KLAS he is helping Davis retain counsel.Duane “Keefe D” Davis appears in Clark County District Court on Oct. 4, 2023. (KLAS)Davis, 60, a self-described gang member, was arrested at his Henderson, Nevada, home on Friday...

Austin restaurants eager for ACL festival crowds after slow summer

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:52 GMT

Editor’s Note: The video above shows KXAN Live’s top headlines for Oct. 4, 2023.AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Restaurants in Austin are gearing up for a busy couple of weekends with Austin City Limits music festival approaching. It comes at a time when restaurant owners said they've been struggling over the summer with fewer customers dining in. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Central Texas’ triple-digit heat wave slams restaurants, food trailers Previously, the Texas Restaurant Association told KXAN the months-long stretch of triple-digit temperatures led to reduced foot traffic of customers in restaurants, food trucks and trailers. At the same time, the association said restaurants are also dealing with inflation and rising food costs. PREVIOUS COVERAGE: New laws help food service industry, Texas Restaurant Association says Because of that, the crowds expected these next two weekends will be a welcomed sight. Money in the local economyAccording to Airbnb, searches for listings in Austin increased by ...

Group pitches last-chance plan to save historic Barton Springs tree Flo

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- With hours left before a celebration of life ceremony for the 120-year-old pecan tree "Flo" at Barton Springs, a local group is pitching a plan to save it by adding structural reinforcements.Save Our Springs, or SOS, said that its "Pergola Concept" provides an alternative to removing the historic tree. SOS added it plans to pay the bill for the project."With SOS’s offer to pay for the artful enhancements needed to make certain Flo’ cannot hurt any person or property, there is simply no rational basis for killing and removing the tree at this time," the group said in an email.A sketch of the proposed plan, which will create a support structure to catch Flo and protect pool visitors. (Courtesy: Lauren Woodward Stanley)The design of the project was created by Ben Livingstone and local firm Stanley Studios, according to SOS.In August, Flo was diagnosed with "brittle cinder fungus," which weakens the tree's roots and trunk near the base of the tree. The Austin City Counc...

Warm today, but a stormy start to Thursday

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:52 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Unseasonably hot weather persists for one last day with high temperatures climbing into the middle 90s. Factoring in the very high humidity expect "feels-like" temps to be in the triple digits. But finally some prolonged relief is heading our way! Two strong cold fronts and a rain-making storm are approaching Texas.The Rain and TimingIsolated to scattered showers and storms will be possible Wednesday through the evening. The chance of rain however remains relatively low (30%). The main event bringing us widespread heavy rain doesn't arrive until the Thursday morning commute along the approaching cold front.Rain coverage peaks at 80% on Thursday morninghe cold front begins to push into our viewing area around sunrise Thursday morning.Heaviest rain arrives during the early morning commuteHeavy rain then pushes into the Austin area between 6 AM and 9 AM.Heavy rain likely continues through the morning with it gradually tapering off by the late afternoon.Rainfall Amounts...

Tropical Storm Philippe dumping heavy rain in parts of the Caribbean

Published Wed, 19 Feb 2025 20:52:52 GMT

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The National Hurricane Center continues to track Tropical Storm Philippe as it brings heavy rain and flash flooding to parts of the Caribbean.The NHC said Philippe remains disorganized as it slowly moves northwestward.The storm is currently dumping heavy rain across portions of the British and U.S. Virgin Islands. Its maximum sustained winds are near 45 mph. What’s causing that smoke over the Tampa Bay area? Philippe is forecast to turn toward the north-northwest Wednesday, followed by a faster motion toward the north on Thursday and Friday, the NHC said.The storm will approach Bermuda by Thursday night and Friday.Philippe is forecast to produce the following rainfall amounts through today:The United States & British Virgin Islands: 4 to 8 inches with maximum amounts to 12 inches.Puerto Rico: 2 to 4 inches.Meteorologists said the rainfall is likely to result in scattered flash flooding.